Page 120 of Ashes and Lilies
Plan A involved my rescue, which was the most ideal situation. The longer I could delay Daniel Cole and his ritual, the more time Damen would have to figure out where I was and save me. I had no idea how much time had passed already, but my hands were already numb.
However, if he didn’t make it in time, then I’d be forced into Plan B. While it might work, I would definitely die. However, justice would prevail when the witches wasted their time and limited resources to fruitlessly murder me for their cause.
In both cases. Damen would eventually bring the Cole family down.
Still, only having two plans was risky. I needed another—just in case.
I hadn’t realized I’d been staring at the door until the handle turned, and my stomach dropped. But instead of Daniel Cole’s arrival, the door opened only a crack, and a shadowy form peeked through the gap.
It almost seemed as though they were watching my neglectful guardian.
The static that’d taken over my mind—a place where logic thrived instead of fear—began to crumble as the beginnings of another emotion touched me.
Hope.
I bit back my alarm as the door opened more fully, and Finn stepped into the room.
He didn’t even look in my direction. Instead, he moved to the witch, wrapped his arm around the other man’s head, and slammed it into the smooth, hard wall. He’d moved so quickly that the witch hadn’t even noticed his arrival.
I was unable to breathe until the witch’s form crumbled to the ground, and by the time I sucked in a breath, Finn was in front of me, pulling at the chains.
“Finn!” My voice escaped in a breathless whisper. “What are you—”
“How do you always get into so much trouble?” he asked. “Keeping you safe is a full-time job.”
How dare he. “It wasn’t my fault!” I protested.
He studied my face as he unhooked the chain. “You seem well enough together,” he remarked, and I might have been insulted if not for the concern in his eyes. My arms were a dead weight, and my legs were sore. Once I was freed from the ceiling chain, my wrists dropped as I fell to my knees.
“You’re not hurt?” he asked, following me to the floor.
“I was minding my own business,” I continued, blinking back tears. It really wasn’t fair. “Bryce took me out. I didn’t even do anything.”
“Yes,” Finn was frowning. “I know. I followed you.”
“Why?” I asked, wincing as he rubbed my tingling hands.
“Because I only trust myself. I didn’t see a key to these,” he said, studying the smooth shackles cutting into my wrists. “We’ll have to figure it out later. Can you walk? We need to get out of here.”
He was right. We could fight another time.
“Y-yes,” I replied, sniffling.
Finn held my forearms as I stood. My entire body hurt, and I fell into him as I stumbled forward. “I—I want to leave,” I told him, pressing my forehead against his chest.
This was silly—why was I trembling? The perfect time to panic would have been when I was utterly and hopelessly alone.
Not when I’d been basically rescued already.
Finn hesitated before his sigh brushed over my neck. “Come on,” he said, wrapping his arm around my waist. “Let’s get you out of here.”
He led me out of the room. It was night, evidenced by the darkness outside the full-length windows lining the hallway, and I had no idea how much time had passed.
“W-where are we?” I asked.
“An abandoned hospital a few towns over,” Finn responded, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. “I’ve sent Damen our location, but who knows how much longer they’ll be.”
My heart stuttered as I glanced up at Finn. “You’re by yourself?”
